At least 19 refugees and migrants have died after a boat overturned trying to reach Italy via the Mediterranean Sea from sub-Saharan Africa. The incident took place on the coast of Tunisia on Saturday. According to news agency ANSA, more than 2,000 asylum seekers have arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa in 24 hours.
Forum for Social and Economic Rights (FTDES) official Romdhane Ben Amor said, "The death occurred when a boat carrying refugees and migrants overturned off the coast of Mahdia, Tunisia, after setting off from the coast of Sfax."
He said, "The Tunisian Coast Guard managed to rescue five people from the boat".
Tunisian authorities did not immediately comment on the incident.
At least five boats carrying refugees and migrants have sunk in the southern city of Sfax in the past four days. 67 people are missing in this incident. 9 people died.
The Coast Guard said earlier that they had detained more than 3,000 people after stopping about 80 boats bound for Italy in the past four days. Most of the detainees are from sub-Saharan African countries.
The coast near Sfax has become a major departure point for people escaping poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East in hopes of a better life in Europe. According to the United Nations, at least 12,000 of those arriving in Italy this year traveled from Tunisia. A year ago this number was 1 thousand and 300.
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